Page:Godly man's ark, or, City of refuge in time of trouble.pdf/12

 of this life. Ah! Chriſtians, the help of having God to be our portion, ought to bear up our ſpirits, and make us ſing with that bleſſed martyr, Mr. Careleſs; ſaith he, "My ſoul is turned to her reſt: I have taken a ſweet nap in the lap of Chriſt, and therefore I will ſing away care, and be careleſs according to my name." If the ſenſe of God being our portion will not reward our ſufferings, and burn up all our cares that fill the head, and diſtract the heart, I know not what will. It was a noble ſpeech of the Heathen Socrates, viz. "Since God is ſo careful of you, (ſaith he), what need you be careful of yourſelves?"

Again, Sixthly, God will work above and beyond ordinary means, rather than ſuch as are his ſhall want. We have a memorable example of the Iſraelites, while they were in the wilderneſs, he fed them with manna, for the ſpace of forty years, and opened the hard rock to give water for them and their cattle to drink, Exod. xix. And alſo in the example of Elijah, 1 Kings xvi. where he was forced